Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing backlash after a video surfaced of him dancing at a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto while violent protests erupted in his home district of Montreal.
The timing of Trudeau’s night out has drawn criticism, with some accusing the leader of neglecting pressing issues in his constituency.
Caught on Camera: Trudeau at the Concert
The video, shared widely on social media platform X, shows Trudeau enthusiastically dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me” before Taylor Swift took the stage. The concert took place in Toronto, about 330 miles west of Montreal, the district Trudeau represents.
The footage quickly went viral, with critics likening Trudeau to Nero, the Roman emperor infamously accused of “fiddling while Rome burned.”
Montreal in Chaos
While Trudeau enjoyed the concert, anti-NATO demonstrators wreaked havoc in Montreal. Protesters, many waving Palestinian flags, set off smoke bombs, burned cars, and clashed violently with police.
According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters threw explosives and metal objects at officers, smashed windows, and even burned an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The chaotic scenes left parts of Montreal reeling and sparked condemnation across the political spectrum.
Political Fallout
The juxtaposition of Trudeau’s concert attendance with the turmoil in Montreal drew sharp criticism online and from fellow politicians.
Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament for Toronto, blasted Trudeau in a post on X:
“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances. This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”
Stewart went on to call for a return to “law and order” in Canada, lamenting the state of the country under the current leadership.
Trudeau Responds to the Backlash
By Saturday, Trudeau addressed the protests, denouncing the violence and pledging accountability for the rioters.
“What we saw on the streets of Montreal last night was appalling,” Trudeau said. “Acts of antisemitism, intimidation, and violence must be condemned wherever we see them.”
He added that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were coordinating with local law enforcement to ensure those responsible face consequences.
Online Reactions Amplify Criticism
Social media users quickly seized on the incident, with many condemning Trudeau’s perceived indifference to the unrest in his hometown. Comparisons to historical figures like Nero highlighted the public’s frustration with Trudeau’s priorities.
As the controversy grows, it remains to be seen whether Trudeau’s actions will have lasting political ramifications, but for now, the image of him dancing while Montreal burned has ignited a fresh wave of criticism against his leadership.
